what is textbook review?
For assurance of quality of books,
For assurance of quality and up-dating the textbooks, continuous review meetings of the authors and eminent scholars are required every academic session. The books are updated keeping in mind the changing scenarios at National and international level.
The process of reviewing textbooks involves following steps:
Identification of areas for review / improvement
Feedback analysis
Meeting of experts with authors
Incorporation of suggestions / amendments advised by the subject experts and the authors
Correction of pre-press materials
Printing / publication
Marketing
What is textbook.
A textbook is one of the resources/tools for the implementation of curricular objectives in
the hand of a teacher and students. A modern pedagogy requires a shift from rote-learning to SLO(student learning outcome) based learning. This is the prime responsibility of the
reviewers to see if a manuscript of textbooks contains an up to date and according to grade level learning process. Further more, generally
developers of textbooks focus on students learning outcomes described in the curriculum
and ignore the general pedagogical scheme. This approach totally impedes the true
objectives of a curriculum. Evaluators need to ensure that thematic development from
helping concepts to key concepts are logically developed in a process with illustrations of
academic value etc. This is quite a critical point and should be dealt in a child friendly
manner to make it interesting and engaging for the students so that children can learn
through reading and doing themselves too.
Any good textbook is developed in a scheme and this contains various components: main
thread of themes, additional interesting information to maintain the interest of children,
some comic motifs to enliven the learning and dramatic / interactive graphic designing.
As the purpose of this review is to evaluate manuscripts on comparative level, evaluators
should evaluate with extra care and should give strong evidence to this effect so that if
their evaluation is challenged they might not face any embarrassment. Additional pages
may be used for enlisting evidence.
It is advisable that the evaluator should understand the learning scheme of the curriculum
in a very meticulous way. While scanning the curriculum, the evaluator should enlist the
sub / helping concepts (required to build up a broader concept) in a chapter along with
required illustrations and general scheme. After doing this, the evaluator can easily go
through the process of evaluation.
Each indicator in pro-forma would be judged on a scale 0 – 4. Any manuscript receiving less
than total 75 marks will not be considered for any further process.
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Here are subject wise book reviews examples:
Math Textbook Review Example:
*Book Title*:
Journey Through Math 5
*Publisher*: Paramount books
*Grade:* 5
I would recommend this book as:
1) There are clear explanations of mathematical concepts to facilitate the learning and understanding of students.
2) The extensive practice opportunities enable students to master mathematical concepts progressively.
3) This book enables students to practice and consolidate what they have learned through assessment time exercises at the end of each unit.
4)This book engages students’ curiosity, making the subject of mathematics appealing through MCQs and objectives type questions.
5) For teachers, there are guidelines to see where students can either be further challenged or supported with specific interventions.
*Areas of improvement*:
. The table of content page is confusing. it should be clear for teachers and students.
. In the Student's book, there are too many problems with the same strategy that may haul students' focus, and also teachers can lose the given time for syllabus completion.
Suggesions:
Unlike Workbooks, the students' book must have a sufficient number of problems.
Math textbook review example 2:
Maths 6th
National Book Foundation
This book has been developed according to the National Curriculum and enhances learning abilities through the inculcation of logical thinking in learners.
It will develop higher orders thinking processes by systematically building upon the foundation of learning from the previous grades. It will create real life linkages of the concepts and methods. That approach will enable students to solve real life problems. It is a very good book for students
Urdu textbook review Example:
Book Title:
Urdu
Publisher:
National book foundation/Punjab text book board,
Grade: 6
Review
I would recommend this book as:
١۔اس میں اردو زبان کا استعمال سکھانے کو بھرپور اہمیت دی گٸ ہے۔
٢۔ اسباق اور نظموں کے چناٶ میں جدید طرز بیاں کے
ساتھ ساتھ کلاسیک ادب کو بھی اہمیت دی گٸ ہے
٣۔ طلبا کے ربط وضبط اور شوق کی ترویج کے لۓ اضافی معلومات اور سرگرمیاں دی گٸ ہیں۔
٤۔ مشقی سلسلے بھی نصاب کے مطابق اور طلبا کی
مشق کے لۓ بہترین ہیں
٥۔ اسا تذہ کی رہنماٸ کے لۓ واضح ہدایات موجود
ہیں ۔
٦۔ قواعد کی بہترین مثالیں دی گٸ ہیں۔
بہتری کے شعبے:
کتاب میں اردو کے جدید تقاضوں کے مطابق مزید نۓ عنوانات شامل کۓ جاٸیں۔
English textbook review example:
English textbook of the 6th grade covers and fulfills almost all the necessary areas and objectives with basic levels. The language of the book is appropriate according to the students' level.
Science textbook review Example:
*National book foundation Science grade 8*
# I would highly recommend this book because of its
1) excellent explanation
2) The series of lessons was designed to meet the needs of gifted children for extension beyond the standard curriculum with the greatest ease of use
3)The lessons may be given to the students for individual self-guided work
4)Assessment strategies are included at the end of each lesson
5)incorporating creativity or higher level technical skills.
6) It's an easy chapter book with pictures on every page.
The textbook review forms are also available on PTB website:
You can find textbook review forms of any subject here: